Rubber float ball-valve.



D. STEPHEN. RUBBER FLOAT BALL VALVE. APPLICATION FILED ocT. 24. I9I3.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

L I L I I 9 @DAVID STEPHEN, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. O. CNIEIELIDl CO., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

RUBBER rLoA'r BALL-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. ae, iaia.

Application filed October 24, 1913. Serial No. 797,096.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID STEPHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in\ the town of Stratford, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber Floatl Ball-Valves; and I do declare the following Jball valves, Serial No. 7 97,095, filed October T he object of the invention is to incorporate a rubber stiffening element in the ball so that collapsing thereof will be e'ectually prevented.

Further, the invention aims to provide reinforcing means for the metal thimble at the ball top, and to otherwise generally improve, simplify, and economize in the production of ball valves of the type above mentioned.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ball valve constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof.

The method of manufacture of the float ball valve, brieflv recited, is as followsz--A back'piece of rubber 1, of substantially concavo-convex cross-section, is vulcanized to the proper degree of stiffness, a reinforce ment 2 being provided which extends on the inner concave face of the rubber piece 1, the latter being preferably of substantially circular outline. 'e

In Fig. 2 of the`drawngs, the dotted lines indicate the arts as constructed and as.- sembled and 1n condition to be vulcanized, and the vulcanizing processv produces the structure which 'is shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 1. A small block 3 of unvulcanized rubber is centrally cementedto the upper or outer convex face of the rubber piece 1, whereupon a large nnvulcanized rubber disk 4, which is to form the upper half of the ball, is placed over the small block 3, cement being first applied.- so as to effect adhesion between the piece of rubber 1 band the large rubber disk 4, the-operator I block 3.

disk 4 will be provided with a swelling or protuberance 5 which incloses the small The next step is to unite the free edge of a comparatively large unvulc'anized rubber disk 6, which is to form the lower half of the ball, to the peripheral edge of the disk 4, by manipulating and kneading the edges together. ized rubber, containing an interiorlythreaded metal thimble 9, is next cemented to the outer face of the protuberance 5, whereupon the operator inflates the structure to the form shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings and seals the structure so as to confine the air therein. Thestructure thus formed is-tlien placed in a mold and vulcaniZed, and pierced at 11, to-allow escape -of the gases which the heat of vulcanization ,has caused to form in the structure.

During the vulcanization process, the' block 3, the protuberance 5 and the nub 8 will merge so as to form suicient stock to provide the boss 12, which latter serves as a reinforce and also provides a firm and effective ancher-age for the metal thimble 9.

An important feature of the present invention is the'prevulcanizing of the back piece 1 so that it is of a degree of stiness greater than would result were said piece vulcanized tov the same extent as that to which the ball itself is vulcanized. If all the partswere primarily unvulcanized` and the entire structure were vulcanized so that the back piece 1 would also besuiiciently vulcanized, then the ball would be too hard and lwould not seat and cushion in a satisfactory manner against the valve seat of the tank water supply. On the other hand, if all the parts were primarily unvulcanized and if the vulcanization were only carried to an extent sufficient to give the ballproper prevent collapseof the ball, which latter objection prevails in most balls as now made.

lTherefore by prevulcanizing the piece 1, so

A nub 8 of unvulcanthat the vulcanizing of the other 'parts will not affect said piece 1, the latter possesses' greater strength, rigidity and stiffness, which afford the desideratum of a stiifening element formed of rubber and incorporated in the ball as distinguished from a stiffening element formed of foreign material. In regard to the use of foreign material for the purpose of stiil'ening the crown of the ball,

it may be said that metal and wood have been used for this purpose, in lieu of rubber, but this has proven objectionable, because a permanent or satisfactory connection with the rubber ball cannot be formed, and in addition the foreign material soon works loose, and in some cases disintegrates the rubber ball, aside from. the item of expense which the use of foreign material involves in attachment.

What is claimed is l. A hollow rubber float ball valve, of comparatively flexible material having an upper portion to which a stem for the valve may be attached, and a rubber reinforcing element of less flexible material than the hollow rubber upper portion, said element.

being shaped to fit within the upper portion and permanently secured thereto 'throughout its entire upper surface whereby the upper portionof the valve is reinforced to prevent distortion of the same.

2. A hollow rubber float valve, of comparatively flexible material having an upper portion to which a stem for the valve may be attached, and a rubber reinforcing element of less flexible material than the hollow rubber upper portion, said element being shaped to it within the upper portion and permanently secured thereto throughout the entire upper surface of the reinforcing element, whereby the upper portion of the valve is reinforced to prevent distortion of the same.

3. A hollow valve, the main body and bility than the body portion, located within, surrounded by, and permanently united to the inner face of the 'upper portion of the valve, the valve being characterized by having a yielding and adaptable seat, and an upper portionprotected against collapse under external pressure.

4. A bulb for tank valves, having a continuous outer surface of soft vulcanized rubber and an upper inner portion forming a rigid support, the lower hemispherical portion being entirely of soft vulcanized rubber and all of said parts being vulcanized to each other.

5. A hollow rubber float ball valve having an upper portion to which a stem for a valve may be attached and comprising comparatively flexible material, and a rubber reinforcing element of less flexible material than the hollow upper portion, said element being shaped to fit within the upper portion, and permanently secured thereto throughout its entire upper surface, whereby the upper portion of the valve is reinforced to prevent distortion of the same.

6. A lioat ball valve formed with a ilexible seat-engaging portion, an upper portion, and an interiorly arranged non-metallic stiffening element for said upper portion havingits upper surface permanently secured to the inner surface of said upper portion.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. DAVID STEPHEN.-

Witnesses:

G. E. MELIUS, II. A. MAYsE. 

